Summary

• Dreamweaver is a robust and powerful tool for HTML authoring and site management that also gives you more sophisticated control over the placement of Flash objects within an HTML framework than is possible in the Flash authoring environment.

• Updates to the Dreamweaver authoring environment for version 8 are consistent with other Studio 8 programs — including the long-awaited tabbed panel behavior for Mac. Additional Dreamweaver-only updates include a newly centralized and more robust CSS panel and more extensive support for XML-based production workflows.

• You can easily add Flash buttons and Flash text objects from within Dreamweaver, without ever opening Flash. Dreamweaver 8 now also supports Flash Video and FlashPaper within the familiar object import workflow — including the option to select from several prebuilt control bars for controlling video playback.

• Flash elements are an amazing resource for designers creating hybrid Flash/HTML projects. Leveraging the new SWC format makes it possible for developers to build sophisticated source files in Flash that can then be loaded into Dreamweaver and modified with predefined parameters accessed through a simple interface. The finished, Webready .swf file is generated from Dreamweaver.

• Dreamweaver comes with many built-in JavaScript Behaviors that are easy to apply, including methods for detecting plug-ins and triggering simple control of Flash movies.

• Dreamweaver includes full ActionScript code editing abilities, including code hinting and syntax coloring.

• The new Dreamweaver 8 Coding toolbar makes it possible to selectively collapse and expand sections of code for easier editing — less scrolling! Code snippets (added and managed in the Snippets panel) can also be accessed quickly from the Coding toolbar.

• You can check and edit URL links in Flash movies within the Dreamweaver environment without opening Flash. The Files panel affords various views of site content, including Site Map.

• You can launch Flash movies for round-trip editing from within Dreamweaver, making the process of updating Flash files inserted in an HTML site much faster.

• If you aren't already using Dreamweaver as the core for your Web development workflow, now is the time to start!